Rector Corrado Petrocelli: "We're almost there," the measure "is just around the corner."
The University of the Republic of San Marino has awarded two multi-year scholarships to two Palestinian students currently residing in Gaza. After a selection process conducted by a dedicated committee in recent weeks, the interested parties received invitation letters, effectively formalizing the award. The project includes the opportunity to travel to San Marino, reside in San Marino, and attend the Design degree programs for the duration of the scholarships.
The announcement was made yesterday by Rector Corrado Petrocelli, speaking at the Kursaal Congress Center for the inauguration ceremony of the 2025-26 academic year at the University of San Marino: "Two Palestinian students will be arriving," he said, "we're almost there, the Farnesina's decision is almost here. It will allow them to enter the CRUI program."
The initiative, with a diplomatic and humanitarian focus, confirms the University's commitment to ensuring the right to education for young people from conflict zones, as well as to building cultural bridges and dialogue. It involves the issuing of visas and other operations, in which the Department of Foreign Affairs, the Secretariat of State for Education and Culture, the Department of Education and Culture, the Italian Embassy in San Marino, and the Gendarmerie are primarily participating in support of the University of San Marino. The Conference of Italian University Rectors (CRUI) has also made a crucial contribution. The operational plan, developed and coordinated by the Internationalization Office of the University of San Marino, has thus far faced unprecedented academic, diplomatic, bureaucratic, and logistical challenges.
Students awarded the scholarship will receive the support of an academic tutor, Italian language courses for foreigners, and the guarantee of all the services already provided to students at the University of San Marino. The Diocesan Caritas of San Marino Montefeltro is also providing hospitality.
In his speech to the audience, the Rector also reviewed the achievements of the last ten years, citing in particular "the certification obtained by subjecting ourselves to the long, careful, and meticulous examination of a commission from the Institutional Evaluation Programme of the European University Association."
Furthermore, among the agreements "that have committed us to promoting innovation, development, growth, and requalification," I cite the framework agreement with the Congress of State, to "give life to institutional projects of strategic interest to the Republic," implemented for example "in the labor reform and in advanced management training courses for public officials."
Looking to the future, Petrocelli called for the establishment of "an advanced center for research and services for the elderly," an area in which "we are already spending resources to address the problem from medical, statistical, legal, and other perspectives. The will, expertise, and energy are there," he emphasized, "but resources are needed to get started, and I am launching an appeal for this, hoping it will be answered." Also in the works is a "master's degree program in Historical Sciences" and other training programs "in the fields of education and communication."
Among the missed opportunities, however, was "the issue of student housing," for which options emerged in the past that "seemed feasible and viable, but nothing materialized, and I couldn't tell you why; I just know that a solution is urgently needed." Also mentioned was "the plan for an innovative degree program in Medicine," described as "ready," through which "the professors who came here to give lectures would have been able to provide free outpatient services for the people of San Marino. Nothing came of it," the Rector said, "and to this day I still don't know the reason."
The floor was then given to the Secretary of State for Education and Culture, Teodoro Lonfernini, who described the University as "not just a center of education, but a driver of cultural, economic, and social growth for the country." He also touched on "the need to expand student housing," which he identified as "one of the challenges the government intends to support with conviction, because they represent investments in human capital and the international reputation of our country's economic system."
Luca Donati, student representative in the Academic Senate, offered some reflections on his experience, highlighting "the sharing of experiences, ideas, and moments of lightheartedness that make the university journey unique and unforgettable."
Maddalena Lonfernini, representing the technical and administrative staff, called her colleagues' work "the silent but essential thread that holds the institution together." She described it as "right to strengthen our organizational structure, investing in new staff, ensuring job stability and ongoing training."
The lecture concluded with a keynote address by Luciano Canfora, director of the Department of History and Law at the University of San Marino. "It is not without great gratitude that I find myself speaking here," he stated. "My experience as a scholar brought me to these parts back in 1989. I have therefore been a fellow traveler of this republic, and in particular of its University, for a very long time." His speech, titled "The 'pestles' of war," addressed a topic described as "painfully timely." The full speech is available on the "UNIRSM Official Channel" YouTube channel.